Latest news with #PoilaBaisakh
Time of India
26-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
New Market clock tower restoration starts, exterior repair to begin after rain spell ends
1 2 Kolkata: Work on the repair and restoration of the New Market clock tower has finally begun. Masons have started work inside the tower on Friday, chipping off the damp and portions of the plaster in which cracks appeared. Once the current spell of rain ends, scaffolding will be installed to enable exterior repair work. "Work on restoring the iconic New Market clock tower has started in earnest. Since it has been raining over the past few days, we have started working inside the tower. The scaffolding materials are in place. As soon as there is a dry spell, the scaffolding will be installed around the tower and work will begin on its exterior as well," said restoration architect Anjan Mitra, who is executing the prestigious project that is scheduled to be completed before Poila Baisakh next year. The tower with the four-faced clock and its Westminster chimes that survived monsoons and storms for nearly a century was left severely battered by cyclonic storm Amphan in May 2020. Lack of maintenance thereafter caused further damage. Water seeped in, causing cracks in the structure. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The timber floors and decorative elements, including cast iron railings, got corroded. The wooden slats in the spire have fallen apart, and the Westminster chimes and hourly dongs have stopped. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock You Reportingly Undo Portions of the intricate glasses that made up the 7-ft diameter dials went missing, and wild vegetation has taken root. "We will have to strengthen the structural stability of the tower, stop seepage of water, repair the flooring and the interior, improve light and ventilation, replace damaged artwork, and overhaul the clock and its chiming mechanism. The entire work will take around six months," said Mitra, who has restored the Metropolitan Building, Howrah Town Hall, and Sister Nivedita's house. The clock tower is the most defining architectural feature in the 151-year-old New Market. While Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), which owns the market, announced plans two years ago to carry out a thorough repair and revamp of the market to mark its 150th anniversary, it has been unable to set the ball rolling despite funds being approved by the state govt. A private firm, Techno Electric, has now stepped in to fund the clock tower's restoration. "I came to the city 50 years ago as a bank employee, ventured into business, and established myself. It feels good to be able to do something for the city,"company MD, P P Gupta said. Once the repair work of the top section of the tower is complete, clock mechanism experts Swapan and Satyajit Dutta, the father-son duo that has repaired and revived multiple public clock mechanisms in the city in recent years, will undertake the restoration of the Gillett & Johnston clock of the UK. "The overhaul will take around two months," said Satyajit.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
TMC, BJP spar over Bengal foundation day
Kolkata: Trinamool and BJP clashed on Friday over Bengal foundation day. Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar alleged that police tried to stop a two-wheeler rally led by him from reaching Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's residence on Elgin Road. TMC criticised BJP, saying that the saffron party attempted to force a celebration that lacked spontaneity and with which people have no association. Centre has notified June 20 as statehood day in Bengal. Bengal govt has passed a resolution in the assembly and identified Poila Baisakh, the Bengali New Year's Day, for celebrating West Bengal Day. The Friday faceoff between activists of BJP Yuva Morcha and the city police took place outside the Bhowanipore residence of Jan Sangh founding member Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, where the workers had assembled to pay their respects to the leader and then planned to reach Netaji Bhavan, a kilometre away, on two-wheelers and on foot. Suvendu Adhikari, state leader of the opposition, earlier led a march of BJP legislators from the assembly premises to the statue of Syama Prasad Mookerjee on Red Road, about two kilometres away, and garlanded it. "This is a historic day which we must observe. On this day in 1947, the West Bengal Assembly under the leadership of Syama Prasad Mookerjee passed a resolution to remain in India," Adhikari said. Trinamool hit back strongly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Heliopolis: Beautiful New Senior Apartments with Two Bedrooms Senior Apartments | Search Ads Search Now Undo "The people of Bengal have already chosen their statehood day on the first day of the Bengali calendar. It's a day close to the hearts of all Bengalis. The state assembly has already endorsed it. It doesn't matter where a motley band of BJP workers gather and try to force a celebration that lacks spontaneity and with which people have no direct association," said TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh. State parliamentary affairs minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay described it as "politically motivated", pointing out that state govt had already passed a resolution in the assembly and identified Poila Baisakh, the Bengali New Year's Day, for celebrating West Bengal Day. "Why is BJP suddenly so much worked up on June 20 as Paschimbanga Divas?" he asked.
News18
20-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Pashchimbanga Divas' Row: BJP Accuses Police Of Blocking Rally, TMC Calls Celebration Forced
Last Updated: TMC accused the BJP of undermining the secular spirit of the Constitution, calling the celebration "politically motivated" The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Mamata Banerjee, and the opposition BJP engaged in a political slugfest on Friday over the celebration of 'Pashchimbanga Divas'. Union Minister and West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar accused Kolkata Police of obstructing the party's efforts to observe the day. Majumdar alleged that police tried to stop his two-wheeler rally from reaching Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's residence on Elgin Road in south Kolkata. The BJP, following a central government notification, marks June 20 — the date in 1947 when the undivided Bengal Assembly voted for the partition of the state — as 'Pashchimbanga Divas'. Earlier this morning, BJP Yuva Morcha members gathered at the Bhowanipore residence of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the Jan Sangh founder, before planning to cycle and walk to Netaji Bhavan, about a kilometre away. Majumdar alleged, 'we told the police that we will only carry the Tricolour and no party flags in this rally. Even then the police obstructed our movement and arrested our workers." A small group, including Majumdar and state BJP Yuva Morcha chief Indranil Khan, later managed to reach Netaji's house and garland his bust. 'We failed to understand the police's logic behind this obstruction. This wasn't a political rally and our destination was Netaji's house which lies in the same ward as that of the residence of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. It is evident that we will either walk or reach there on motorcycles," Khan added. West Bengal Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari led legislators on a colourful march from the assembly to Dr Mukherjee's statue on Red Road, where they garlanded it and chanted slogans calling for enduring recognition of June 20 as 'Pashchimbanga Divas'. 'This is a historic day which we must observe," Adhikari said. The row centres on which date should be officially recognised as West Bengal Statehood Day. The ruling TMC government has declared Poila Baisakh — the Bengali New Year — as the statehood day, passing a resolution in the assembly. In response to the allegations, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed the BJP's actions as contrived. Ghosh said: 'The people of Bengal have already chosen their statehood day on the first day of the Bengali calendar. It's a day close to the hearts of all Bengalis. The state assembly has already endorsed it. It doesn't matter where a motley band of BJP workers gather and try to force a celebration which lacks spontaneity and with which the people have no direct association." West Bengal's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhandeb Chatterjee accused the BJP of undermining the secular spirit of the Constitution, calling the celebration 'politically motivated". He said the Poila Baisakh resolution had already been endorsed by the state assembly and criticised the BJP's sudden interest in June 20. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author News Desk First Published: June 20, 2025, 22:09 IST Latest News MP HC commutes death penalty of man convicted of raping 4-year-old girl Agency feeds Agency feeds Jharkhand cabinet gives nod to key infra, edu projects, policy reforms Agency feeds Iran expects India to condemn Israeli military actions against it Cricket Shubman Gill Becomes 5th Indian To Score Century In 1st Test As Captain Politics 'Pashchimbanga Divas' Row: BJP Accuses Police Of Blocking Rally, TMC Calls Celebration Forced latest news
The Print
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Bengal BJP alleges police obstructed party to observe ‘Paschimbanga Divas'
While the government has passed a resolution in the state assembly and identified Poila Baisakh, the Bengali New Year's Day, for celebrating West Bengal Day, the state BJP, acting on a central notification, has marked June 20 to observe the state foundation day. A political slugfest over the observance of statehood day has been on for the last two years between the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government and the ruling party's prime opposition in the state, the BJP. Kolkata, Jun 20 (PTI) West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar alleged on Friday that the Kolkata Police resisted the party's attempts to observe 'Pashchimbanga Divas' by trying to stop a two-wheeler rally headed by him from reaching Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's residence on Elgin Road in the southern part of the city. On that day in 1947, the Legislative Assembly of undivided Bengal met and voted in favour of partition of the state between East and West Bengal. The latter stayed with India while the former was included in Pakistan. The Friday face-off between activists of the BJP Yuva Morcha and the city police took place outside the Bhowanipore residence of Jan Sangh founding member, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, where the workers had assembled to pay their respects to the leader and then planned to reach Netaji Bhavan, a kilometre away, on two-wheelers and foot. 'We told the police that we will only carry the Tricolour and no party flags in this rally. Even then the police obstructed our movement and arrested our workers,' Majumdar alleged. A small team of party workers, including Majumdar and the state BJP Yuva Morcha president Indranil Khan, later managed to reach Bose's residence on two-wheelers and garland the leader's bust outside the house. 'We failed to understand the police's logic behind this obstruction. This wasn't a political rally and our destination was Netaji's house which lies in the same ward as that of the residence of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. It is evident that we will either walk or reach there on motorcycles,' Khan said. The only possible explanation is that the police were pressed by the Mamata Banerjee government to stop us from observing Paschimbanga Divas, Khan said. Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition, earlier led a colourful march of BJP legislators from the assembly premises to the statue of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on Red Road in central Kolkata about two kilometres away and garlanded it. 'This is a historic day which we must observe. On this day in 1947, the West Bengal Assembly under the leadership of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee passed a resolution to remain in India,' Adhikari said, amid chants of Vande Mataram and fervent appeals from rally participants to observe the day as 'Paschimbanga Divas'. PTI SMY NN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Poila Baisakh '26 date for Hwh Bridge dynamic light, audio
Kolkata: Dynamic lighting will illuminate Howrah Bridge by Poila Baisakh next year, a KoPT official said on Thursday, two days after the port authorities signed an MoU with Coal India Ltd for the project. Along with the lights will be synchronised music. "Coal India will contribute a substantial amount. Bids will be invited by June-end. We hope to inaugurate the bridge's upgraded illumination on Bengali New Year in April 2026," said Samrat Rahi, deputy chairman, KoPT, now called Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata. The port is the custodian of the 2,150-ft-long, 70-ft-wide and 269-ft-high Howrah Bridge or Rabindra Setu. TOI reported on March 10 that the detailed project report had been readied for the bridge's dynamic illumination, which included an enhanced light-and-sound show to be streamed universally on an app. The light patterns, designed to reflect moods and occasions, would bring the iconic structure alive like never before, an official said. The plan includes volumetric and skeleton lighting, along with synchronized music. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo "This project is an upgrade over the existing illumination," Rahi said. The MoU was signed at Coal India headquarters, Coal Bhawan, in the presence of their chairman PM Prasad, SMPK chairman Rathendra Raman and Rahi among others. "The live broadcasting of dynamic lighting shows with synchronized sound, which people can watch on a mobile app, will transform it into a night-time spectacle, similar to those at international landmarks, like Eiffel Tower," Rahi said. "The new system can portray, events like Durga Puja, Independence Day and Ganga Utsav, showcasing light shows and audio, reflecting Bengal's heritage," SMPK spokesperson Sanjay Mukherjee said. SMPK plans shows for 60 occasions. Special shows will have music and commentary on the ethos and cultural significance of the events. Colour themes of any country can be created on the bridge. The dynamic architectural lighting of the southern profile of the bridge will consume 320KW of electricity. The types of lights to be used will include RGB (red, green and blue), RGBW (red, green, blue and white LED chips), mono-colour flood, linear wall washer, and pixel dot direct view. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
